Courson interview

[Begin Tape 1, Side 2]
Warren: I have just about gone through all the questions I have. Is there anything
you'd like to talk about?
Courson: No, I can't think of anything.
Warren: As you wind down your career, and you've had your great moment of glory.
Courson: Nothing else I can think of, necessarily.
Warren: Is there anything that you really wanted to do while you were here that you
haven't been able to do?

                                                                                                                     21
Courson: Well, I ran for president of our sorority and lost to a really good friend of
mine, but in hindsight, I don't know if I would have been able to do that and be chair of
Fancy Dress, so I think everything happens for a reason. So maybe that was why that
happened. I also enjoyed the leadership positions I did have in the sororities, so I
wouldn't trade those for anything. Other than that, I applied for various committees.
I'm very competitive. I've applied to give tours once or twice, and was not accepted on
that committee. I always thought that would have been neat and a fun thing to do,
but—
Warren: So you applied to the admissions department?
Courson: Well, it's called the Student Recruitment Committee. It's run by students, but
it's connected to the Admissions Department. The numbers of people that apply for
that are pretty large, the number of people they accept. But I definitely don't have any
regrets. I've loved everything that I have done here and wouldn't trade any of my
experiences for another one, I don't think, at this point.
Warren: So they probably have a test for that, giving tours, to see if you can walk
backwards, right?
Courson: My roommate gives them, and also I've seen her having trouble walking
backward.
Warren: I'm always very impressed. When they get to the curb, they keep right on
going. How do they do that?

         Well, Melissa, this has been really fun for me. I've really enjoyed getting to know
you a little bit. Friday night I was just so full of admiration, and I said, "I get to
interview Melissa on Wednesday."
Courson: Well, I loved doing it. It is nice to know. I mean, obviously, people
appreciate Fancy Dress, because it is probably the biggest weekend of the year. But I
enjoyed doing it, and I've heard nothing but positive comments. It just makes me feel

                                                                                                                     22
really good, and I am proud of myself about the fact that I was able to do that. I
enjoyed doing it.
Warren: So you don't know yet who your successor will be?
Courson: No, we won't know until spring term, a couple—some people I know have
talked to me. But it will be interesting to see who ends up interviewing. I mean, it's
such a big time because everybody is sort of waiting to see what other commitments are
going to be involved and definitely decide whether or not they're going to apply. I
would have nothing but encouragement for anybody that wanted to do it, because it's
so rewarding and definitely a neat experience to be able to work on this for so long, and
then to be able to see it all come together at the last minute. I was in the gym until six
on Friday, but I went up in the balcony, just by myself, Friday night, and looked out
across the gym and just thought it was so neat. I was very proud of myself, and just
thought it was neat to go look out over the gym and see everybody having such a good
time and know how much of a part I had in it. I enjoyed doing it.
Warren: Well, you should. I'm glad you took that moment to enjoy it. Thank you,
Melissa.
Courson: Thank you.
[End of Interview]

                                                                                                                     23